Hi, guys, I'm ashamed to admit that this chapter is very short and not very exciting. This is because I made a mistake and this chapter should have been together with the previous one. So the next chapter will be right and longer.

PS: it could take quite a while to write the next chapter because in a few days I move to another country and I will need time to acclimate. But I swear I'll complete the story.

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Merlin was now more than convince that the dungeons beneath Arthur's castle were actually a labyrinth. They have been walking along long corridors after corridors, turning around corners after corners for so long. Merlin was sure that if Arthur wasn't dragging him by the hand, he would have already lost his way many times.

But finally, they must have reached their destination, because Arthur stopped in front of a metal door. He opened it and they entered.

Gwaine was there, chained to the wall at the far end of the cell. His hand were above his head and his face was cover with cuts and bruises.

Shocked and unable to resist, Merlin tried to run to him, but Arthur stopped him by grabbing his arm tightly, but not enough to hurt him of course.

"Honey, you shouldn't be so reckless in your condition. What if while you are running to your friend, you fall?"

Merlin ripped his arm from Arthur's grip, "Fuck off!"

He dashed to Gwaine, kneeling in front of him. He took his battered face between his hands and started to caress him kindly, to give him a bit of comfort. His heart clenched when the other rubbed his cheek against his palm in response.

"How are you feeling, Gwaine?" He asked softly.

"Oh, don't worry about these scratches. I have experienced much worse. The werewolves that have done this are like puppies compared to some very bad lads I met in Caracas. Have I ever told you about Caracas?"

Merlin snorted and leaned his forehead against Gwaine's. "Will you ever change?"

"Nah, you'll get bored" The brown-haired man answered, relaxing as he rubbed against Merlin's forehead and inhaled his wonderful scent.

Arthur spread his nostrils in irritation in front of this scene. He saw red and his most primitive possessive nature awoke.

He took Merlin by the waists and pull him against his chest, growling with all his sharp teeth at Gwaine, his eyes shining bright red.

"MINE" He hissed.

However, Gwaine just laughed, "Calm down, Princess, You wouldn't want to wrinkle your beautiful clothes and mess your soft hair, right? What's up, Pendragon? Do you feel threatened?"

Arthur hissed like a beast once more, before he returned to normal…now he was just smirking.

"It's not worth getting angry with you, Gwaine. I have more important things to do, like being with my beloved"

The blond leaned forwards and kissed the brunet on the neck, licking his white and soft skin, moaning. He never took his eyes off Gwaine and his smirk never fell from his face. He was staking his claim on Merlin, marking him as his.

"Bastard!" Snarled Gwaine, struggling to free himself. "Let him be! Haven't you already ruined his life enough?"

Arthur shook his head, "On the contrary, I am creating a better one for him...and you, my dear Gwaine, will help me with this"

"NEVER!" Gwaine yelled.

Arthur's face hardened and he stepped forwards, threatening.

"No, Arthur, please, don't kill him…" Merlin begged, wrapping his arms around Arthur's in order to stop him. He couldn't allow him to harm his best friend more than he had already done.

"Don't waste your breath, Merlin. He is just a beast" Gwaine spat, but Arthur wasn't paying attention to him and ignored him completely.

He had turned toward his love, looking into his begging eyes with fondness and caressing his cheek gently.

"Don't fret yourself, sweetheart. I won't kill him. I made you a promise, remember? Besides, it would be counterproductive to my plan"

"What plan?" Merlin whispered, scared. "What do you want to do to him?"

Arthur grinned, "Well, our children will need to eat, after all…"

Merlin's blood turned into ice and so Gwaine's face at the implications.

"What?" Merlin couldn't breathe.

"I thought that since Gwaine has taken such a shine to you, it would be just right to allow him to take care of your children….and what better way there is than giving them his blood?" Arthur smiled. When he saw Merlin's still confused and horrified expression, he continued. "For a month or so, our children will have to drink your blood, which will make them stronger and healthier since you are their 'mother', not to mention that it will enforce your bond, making them very protective of you. However, they will need to drink more and more blood with each passing day and may accidentally drain you dry and kill you. And my love, I'm telling you now that I rather drown them in the lake than let them take you from me." Arthur said, more serious than ever and Merlin never doubted him for a second. "That's why they need another source of human blood….and that's where Gwaine comes into the picture"

Silence reigned in the cell.

Then, a small and scared voice broke it. It was Gwaine.

"Please, kill me…"

Merlin's heart stopped. "What? Gwaine, what are you saying?"

"Please, Merlin, kill me. I don't want to be eaten alive, not even by your children"

"Aw, the big, strong and funny Gwainny is scared" Arthur sing-songed mockingly, enjoying himself.

"Merlin, please" Gwaine sobbed.

The brunet didn't know what to do. His heart was beating very fast, so much he thought it was about to burst out of his chest, he throat hurt, as if it was closing or wanted to scream at the same time.

On one hand, he wanted to spare Gwaine the slow death that would probably await him once his children started to feed from him. On the other hand, however, he was incapable of murdering his best friend, the one who took care of him when he needed it the most and who Merlin would have loved if things had been different, less…complicate.

Mentally asking Gwaine to forgive him, Merlin lowered his head in silent resignation. Even Gwaine let his head fall between his chests and closed his eyes, when he understood.

Arthur smiled and hugged Merlin, keeping him at his side.

"Well then, I have a friend I want you to meet, Gwaine"

Arthur whistled and after a few seconds, a mountain of a man entered into the cell. He had a body sculpted by powerful muscles and was completely naked, except for a fur loincloth.

"This is Percival, the Alpha leader of all werewolves. He has recently lost his mate, so he is in need to externalize his instincts to protect, to care, to feed his mate and to couple. He will do all these things to you, Gwaine. He'll care for you, protect you, hunt for you and then he'll mate you, especially during the full moon nights….Oh look, tonight is full moon…well…it means we'll let you have fun, my friends"

Arthur started to drag Merlin out of the cell, but the brunet just couldn't abandon his friend, so he tried to resist.

"No, Arthur, no, I can't leave him…"

"Yes, you can and you will!"

The vampire lifted him up and carried him out, ignoring Merlin's screams.

The last thing Merlin saw was Percival removing his fur loincloth and manhandling a struggling Gwaine into an all four position.

Then the door closed.